State of Wyoming Archives: on Health Care

Charlie Hardy:
There are sick people unable to get medical attention

Quote of the day from Charlie: "There are sick people in Wyoming who are unable to go and get the medical attention they want.
There are kids who want to continue their education, but they can't. We must run, and we must win because of all of these things."

Liz Cheney:
Can't salvage any of ObamaCare, but costs are out of control

Q: One of the biggest domestic issues facing this country today is health care reform. Do you think Republicans should emphasize their plans?

CHENEY: Yes. We do need to recognize that health care costs are out of control. There is a need for tort
reform, to purchase insurance across state lines, and to find ways to insure people with pre-existing conditions. I don't think we can salvage any of ObamaCare, and this disaster must be repealed. I would hope that even this president is having a wake-up
call, realizing that the federal government cannot effectively run massive and complicated parts of our economy. Just look at this tax on medical devices. I have a 13-year-old daughter with diabetes that is reliant on a medical device. My father
is alive today because of medical devices. Yet the Democrats want a tax that would create a disincentive for people to invent. This is fundamentally wrong.

Liz Cheney:
Republicans who compromised on ObamaCare got used by Obama

Q: Sen. Enzi voted against ObamaCare, but you say that's not enough. And you point to the fact that he was a member of the so-called "gang of six" who tried to work out a compromise, unsuccessfully. Isn't that what legislating is about?

CHENEY:
Legislating is about knowing where to draw the line. Certainly, at some point, we all believe in compromise for the good of the nation. So, when the president or his allies say, "Hey, we're going to take over a sixth of the economy,"
Sen. Enzi's response was essentially to say, "OK, let's negotiate about that." The right response would have been: absolutely not. And, frankly, if all of the Republicans had done that at the beginning, had stood their ground and refused to compromise
on this, we probably wouldn't be where we are today. Instead, you have Republicans like Sen. Enzi who gave the president the ability to say, "Hey, this is a bipartisan effort"--when, in fact, it wasn't. It was never intended to be. And they got used.

Liz Cheney:
Urge the repeal of ObamaCare

Speaking to small business owners in Casper, she urged the repeal of ObamaCare and its massive tax burden on the private sector. Speaking to the Chamber of Commerce in Cheyenne, she urged that we reverse
Obama's dangerous cuts in defense spending, which are weakening our national security and threaten the loss of jobs at important bases like Frances E. Warren AFB.

Matt Mead:
ObamaCare is law of the land; let's decide on an Exchange

The implementation of the ACA [ObamaCare] and associated costs are looming. Despite my strong objection to the ACA and my asking the Attorney General to fight the case in the U.S. Supreme Court, it is the law of the land.
We now have to play the cards in our hand. We have to make decisions regarding Medicaid expansion and insurance exchanges. Last year the discussion on a state-based exchange was suspended.
That and a lack of answers from the federal government mean the federal government will likely run an exchange for Wyoming when exchanges start operating in 2014. But a federal exchange could be temporary because we can choose a state exchange
down the road. We should make an informed choice; therefore, one of my budget recommendations seeks $100,000 to assist in the process of deciding what exchange option is best for Wyoming.

Source: 2013 State of the State Speech to Wyoming Legislature
Jan 9, 2013

Matt Mead:
ObamaCare is not good policy; but we must act on it

Addressing health care, Governor Mead said he continues to believe the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is not good policy. "Unfortunately there is no magic wand waving, there is no approach that will extricate us from the ACA. It is upon us and we must act."

Full implementation of the ACA begins in 2014 and Governor Mead said now is the time to prepare a set of conditions for Wyoming to submit to the federal government on a health insurance exchange and
Medicaid optional expansion. "This body (the Legislature) has the opportunity to develop what we would like to see in that request. Now, perhaps the federal government will not agree to our terms.
We can say no if they do not, but it is far better that we express our terms and make a request than to not make a request and get a package without our input. Let's view this as an opportunity for innovation."

Source: Press Release on 2013 Wyoming State of the State Speech
Jan 9, 2013

The federal health care bill may be the best Congress could do--it is not the best we can do. Therefore, I support legislation that would establish a litigation fund related to the federal health care law.

As you no doubt know, I have taken steps to
join the Florida lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act. I understand the criticism in doing so--some because they like the Act, some because of the cost associated with the lawsuit.

I do not like the Act--in my view it is bad policy and too costly.
This law will significantly increase our Medicaid rolls. Mississippi, for example, forecasts the overall cost to implement the Affordable Care Act in that state will be $1.7 billion over ten years, including $443 million in year 10 alone.

I am willing to fully test the legality of the law because it has implications beyond health care. It is not enough to say "no". We should continue to seek state solutions even as we fight the federal law.

Our health reform demonstration project was characterized as creeping socialism, and it dies. I would hope that you will reconsider that. What we are asking people to do--I do not believe it constitutes socialism--is to contribute something to their own
health. They have to participate.

In this pilot project, we expect participants to work at least 20 hours per week, and follow their doctor's orders. The project calls for people to have greater access to their primary care physician.
What we are looking for are those things that drive the system in terms of cost. We are looking for early detection of diabetes; for early detection of cancer; for early detection of heart disease. With any ailments that can become chronic diseases, we
are looking for early detection.

Which part of that is socialism? The part where we ask people to be responsible? The part to pay for their own insurance? The part where we ask people to work? I encourage you to rethink this and take a shot at it.

Source: Wyoming 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 8, 2010

Michael Enzi:
Support mental health parity legislation

Comprehensive mental health parity legislation is needed to ensure greater health insurance parity for persons with mental illness. The Senate bill I’ve been working on builds on a 1996 Mental Health Parity law by requiring health insurance plans that
offer mental health coverage to provide that coverage on par with financial & treatment coverage offered for other physical illness. It does not mandate that group plans must provide any mental health coverage. I support mental health parity legislation.

Keith Goodenough:
Responsibility to deal with the chronically mentally ill

We have the chronically mentally ill and how do we deal with them? Not near as well as we should for sure. Yes it is a difficult population to help and heal, not at all like mending a broken leg, or giving out a prescription for antibiotics.
People without any mental illness are sometimes stubborn and irritating, and some of those who are mentally ill are even more so, but don’t we have a responsibility to create a caring and humane system wherever possible?

Yes, we have that responsibly as a civilized society, but we are falling short. The current approach sometimes seems like that card game “Old Maid”.
Because of the governmental system that is based more on budgets than people, mentally ill people get passed around from place to place and never receive the comprehensive network of services they deserve. We pay more in the long run.

Jim Geringer:
More funding for prescription drugs & senior care

Wyoming will benefit from our hard work this year to improve care for our elderly. In addition to the expanded funding that I’ve recommended in my budget request for health care services and prescription drugs, I support the proposals developed
with your help for long-term care reform, providing seniors with access to assisted living, expanding home based care, re-engineering Medicaid’s arcane administrative details, and giving seniors a boost to their personal needs allowance.

Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Wyoming Legislature
Jan 10, 2001